"The Skeleton Key" is the latest feature from "The Ring" screenwriter Ehren Kruger and, while the film doesn't reach the spooky heights of that film, writer Iain Softley ("Backbeat", "Hackers") and cinematographer Daniel Mindel ("Bourne Identity", "Spy Game") at least give the movie a pretty strong gothic atmosphere. One of the most haunting aspects of watching the film is looking at the New Orleans area locations and being reminded of how many lives were lost and how many historical homes and locations were either damaged or destroyed during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The film stars Kate Hudson as Caroline Ellis, a young woman whose latest job is to take care of Ben Devereaux (John Hurt), an older Southern man who fell ill after a stroke. It doesn't take long before Caroline raises the suspicions of Violet Devereaux (Gena Rowlands), the man's irritable wife.

It's not long either before Caroline starts hearing things that go bump in the night. Although the character does seem a tad nosy, she starts looking around the house and picking up hints that not everything is as it seems. One night, Ben, despite his condition, even makes what appears to be an escape attempt out his window.

In her own sort of Nancy Drew way, Caroline starts finding out about "Hoodoo", the religion of voodoo, and thinks that - despite the fact she doesn't believe in it at first - it may actually the cause of Ben's illness, not a stroke. If it's true, then she has to try and save Ben before it's too late. The only person she has to talk to is Violet's lawyer, played in an unusually average effort (although, to his credit, there's not a whole lot to the character) by Peter Sarssgard.

The feature doesn't really go for the usual "boo!" scares, aside from a couple of moments in the beginning. Instead, it's more of a mystery, and one that works decently. There are a few too many plot holes at times, and the ending starts ramping up the volume and becoming a little over-the-top with everyone running this way and that after a relatively subdued opening 75 minutes.

Still, Kate Hudson's performance, while not terribly noteworthy, is certainly watchable and something of a return for the actress after some completely bland roles. Gena Rowlands is also fine as the sinister Violet. As for John Hurt, he gives a pretty fine performance for someone who doesn't really say or do very much throughout the movie. The film is fairly swiftly paced, as I was surprised when I realized the movie was almost over. The fairly surprising twist ending works fairly well, as well. Overall, certainly not a bad horror/mystery, but it just lacks the writing, character and freshness of something similar, like "The Others". Still, a very good cold or rainy day rental.